2nd November Highlights
Cambridge Researcher Natalie Jones is reporting for The Earth Negotiations Bulletin. In their round up of day 3, the bulletin highlighted:
- The world leaders’ summit culminated with 56 speeches by world leaders, including many commitments and pledges, such as:
- Nigeria pledged to net-zero by 2060.
- Climate Finance commitments were increased; Norway committing to USD 1.6 billion by 2026, Denmark USD 1 billion by 2023 and Japan USD 10 billion in the next 5 years. US Climate envoy John Kerry promised potential further funding through co-financing dependent on how much Japan contributes in the next year.
- The world leaders also announced numerous collective efforts including:
- Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use - involving 110 countries committing to end deforestation by 2030.
- The Global Methane Pledge has been signed up to by 90 countries at COP26. Those signing commit collectively to reducing emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels.
- The High Ambition Coalition - first formed at Paris, this group of countries announced their resolve for a 1.5°C limit among other ambitions like at least doubling adaptation finance.
- From negotiations,
- Finance discussions launched, involving deliberations on a new collective and quantified post-2025 finance goal.
- Transparency in the reporting of countries’ emissions was also heavily discussed, with delegates beginning to draft a decision to be finalised by this set of negotiation’s close on Sunday.
For more detail, read their full daily report for November 2nd.
Follow Natalie Jones on twitter for live updates and our socials for coverage from across the Cambridge Community:
- Instagram: @Cambridgezero
- Twitter: @CambridgeZero
Reports from Cambridge on the Ground
From our Cambridge community, we focus on two women attending COP26 - one a student at the beginning of her career and another an established climate scientist.
Friend of COP26 and direct of Cambridge Zero, Professor Emily Shuckburgh has commented on The Global Methane pledge, stating:
Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas and rapid cuts would make an important difference. It has contributed about 0.5C to warming to-date and although it doesn't stay as long in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide in the first 20 years after its release it is 80 times more powerful at heating.
Methane is an easy win in terms of climate action: cuts using existing technologies and adopting different land management practices could reduce warming by 0.25C by 2050 at little or no cost, and help to keep 1.5 alive.
Rosa Prosser, a Lucy Cavendish student, is attending COP26 where a film she produced this summer while working for Cambridge Zero is being shown. The concluding episode of her 6-part series, ‘Careers to solve the Climate Crisis’, will be showcased in the Green Zone as part of the ‘Green Careers Pathway’ event (7th November @ 9.30am). Rosa’s films were launched today and they can be viewed here. Read her comments below on how she felt to be included in COP26, how she’s feeling in the run up to attending herself, and her thoughts on the historic conference!
When it was confirmed that my films would be shown at COP26 I was a little bit speechless. To be part of such a historical event is a massive privilege and feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m excited to head up to Glasgow later this week and experience the atmosphere for myself. And obviously watching my films in person will be very surreal!
I’m hoping that any young people watching these films will feel inspired that they do matter. I think so often when we think about the climate emergency it is quite easy to feel helpless and overwhelmed, and think that we can’t make a difference because the problem is so daunting. But the biggest thing I have learnt making this film series is that everyone matters in this fight, and one crucial way young people can make a difference is simply through their career choices.
I think that it’s great there is such an emphasis on ‘green careers’ at COP and targeting events towards young people. It is amazing that world leaders are attending and having important discussions about how to fight climate change, but we need young people involved too. So far at COP, big promises have been made, and now I think the time is for action. This is where young people can make a difference, as we will be the next generation in the workforce putting these pledges into place!
If you would like to be involved with our COP26 coverage or have any questions, please email Ella Palmer, ep541@cam.ac.uk.
